ESPN Chicago's Jeff Dickerson reported Tuesday that Bennett was expected to be released after declining a pay cut. The Bears later made the wide receiver's release official.

Falling to the fifth option in the passing attack, Bennett managed a paltry 243 receiving yards on 32 catches primarily out of the slot last season. Of 111 receivers ranked by Pro Football Focus, Bennett's average of 7.6 yards per reception was dead last -- a full yard shy of Davone Bess.